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A new dual IL-1 blocker shows real promise for a painful skin disease. AbbVie's lutikizumab met its primary endpoint in the phase 3 INTREPID trial, delivering meaningful reductions in lesions, skin pain, and flares for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) — a notoriously hard-to-treat inflammatory condition. It's the first phase 3 trial to use HiSCR75 as its primary endpoint, setting a notably rigorous standard for clinical response.
A dual cytokine blocker takes on one of dermatology's toughest diseases
AbbVie's lutikizumab — an investigational drug that simultaneously blocks both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta — hit its primary endpoint in the phase 3 INTREPID trial, marking a significant milestone for patients with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). HS is a chronic, painful inflammatory skin condition characterized by abscesses, nodules, and scarring tunnels that remains underserved despite existing therapies. The trial enrolled adults and adolescents, making it the first phase 3 study to demonstrate a HiSCR75 response rate as its primary endpoint at 16 weeks.
The results build on earlier phase 2 data and a broader wave of positive HS trials targeting distinct inflammatory pathways — including tulisokibart (anti-TL1A) and abdakibart (anti-IL-1β) — all presented at the EADV 2026 Congress. Mechanistic data suggest lutikizumab works by reducing neutrophil infiltration in lesional skin, which in turn may curb fibrosis and tunnel formation. AbbVie plans to submit data to the FDA in the second half of 2027.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: HS causes significant physical and emotional burden, and many patients don't respond adequately to current treatments. Lutikizumab's dual cytokine blockade represents a novel mechanism, and its strong performance on a rigorous endpoint could pave the way for a meaningful new treatment option.
